Independent reviews
From everyday tech and home products to lifestyle and specialist gear, each review focuses on practical use, strengths, limitations, and who the product suits.
Fountain Pens
A side-by-side look at the modern Sheaffer Legacy v3 with Chevron PVD finish and the vintage Legacy from around 2000, covering nib performance, cap design, and value.
Fountain Pens
Two Sheaffer Legacy fountain pens, twenty years apart. We compare the 18k gold inlaid nib original with the modern stainless steel reissue to see which belongs in your collection.
Art Supplies
We put five budget art supplies from Shein through real drawing tests, including a gel pen eraser, pencil-shaped erasers, a toned sketchbook, an all-in-one palette, and a chalkboard wall sticker.
Fountain Pens
An engraved aluminum artisan fountain pen from Shibui North with original Cthulhu artwork, a stainless steel JoWo nib, and a chiseled look that stands out at its price.
Fountain Pens
A handmade titanium pocket fountain pen with creative Kraken engraving, a stainless steel nib, and a cleverly designed interchangeable cap and finial.
Power Meters
Eight months of side-by-side testing against trusted power meters and smart trainers reveals serious, repeatable accuracy problems with the Shimano power meter.
Fountain Pens
Two sizes of a beautiful Urushi and Maki-e fountain pen from Shisen, featuring kingfisher artwork by artisan Shogo Hariier and an 18k gold nib.
Headphones
A closer look at Shokz's latest air-conduction open-ear earbuds, covering fit, sound, battery life, and whether they earn a place in a runner's kit.
Headphones
Two open-air true wireless earbuds from Shokz go head to head on fit, sound, battery life and value, with a clear winner for running.
Audio
The Shokz OpenFit swaps bone conduction for a new DirectPitch driver design, delivering fuller sound while keeping your ears open to the world around you.
Running Headphones
Early running impressions of the Shokz OpenRun Air 2, the successor to the OpenRun with improved bone conduction sound, longer battery life, and USB-C charging.
Running Tech
A lightweight titanium bone conduction headset with quick charging, physical controls, and solid waterproofing for runners who want to stay aware of their surroundings.
Running Shoes
Twelve running shoes tested by a team with a physical therapy background, including fit rankings for five simple lightweight trainers and a look at whether fit should outweigh performance.
Fountain Pens
An eye-catching $28 gradient fountain pen with an interesting design, held back by one of the roughest steel nibs we have tested and questions about how the company presents itself.
Grooming
A complete first-time test of Simpler Hair Color for Men, covering the sensitivity test, application process, results after one week, and tips for a better outcome.
Everyday Carry
A full look at the Titan bifold from Sin City Leather: full grain vegetable tan leather, a vertical layout, quick card access, and a cash compartment that swallows far more than you expect.
Flashlights
From a tiny keychain light to a pocket searchlight, six flashlights that each solve a different problem, plus one to avoid.
Stationery
Handwriting still beats typing in several surprising ways. We pair six science-backed reasons with six stationery picks that make putting pen to paper genuinely enjoyable.
Running Shoes
A bouncy ATPU midsole, an intriguing carbon-infused Quantum plate, and one of the most comfortable uppers we have tried in a super shoe, at $225.
Running Shoes
A lightweight, rockered speed trainer with Hyper Burst Pro foam and a Goodyear outsole that punches well above expectations in a competitive price bracket.
Running Shoes
After 50 miles of testing, the Skechers Aero Spark proves to be a fun, peppy daily trainer with a carbon-infused H plate and a rare sub-$150 price tag.
Running Shoes
The Skechers Running Razor Arrow Razor brings Hyper Burst Pro to a 36 mm stack at just 198 g, and it may be one of the best values in running this year.
Running Shoes
The Max Road 6 brings a tall 41mm stack, bouncy Hyper Arc foam, and a Goodyear rubber outsole, but the added weight changes the character of this cushioned trainer.
Running Shoes
The Go Run Ride 11 pairs a Hyper Burst Ice midsole with a finally dialed-in upper, delivering one of the best daily trainer values around.
Running Shoes
A max-cushion performance racing shoe from Skechers with new Hyper Burst Pro foam, a winglet plate, and a rocker geometry that may not suit every foot strike.
Running Shoes
A carbon-infused H-plate, Goodyear rubber, and a soft EVA midsole make the Skechers Persistence a capable daily trainer, but it struggles to justify its place alongside better Skechers options.
Running Shoes
A sub-200g trainer with TPU foam, a forefoot nylon plate, Goodyear rubber and a competitive price. Here is what early testing reveals about fit, ride and value.
Running Shoes
Back after roughly three years, the Skechers Razor 4 brings Hyper Burst Pro foam, a carbon plate, and a rockered sole in a still-reasonably-priced tempo shoe.
Running Shoes
The Skechers Razor is a lightweight speed-day trainer built around Hyper Burst Pro foam, an H-wing plate, and a Goodyear outsole. Here is how it performs and who it suits.
Running Shoes
Four Skechers running shoes explained: two daily trainers, a fast-day shoe with 100% TPU foam, and a new high-end racer for 2:15 to 2:45 marathoners.